One may wonder why the Torah considers this so important that it adds this specific reward of a long life. The rabbis disagree as to whether this is a law that intends to show that one has to be sensitive and not cruel to animals or whether it’s designed to teach us that if we are commanded to be sensitive to birds, how much more so should we be sensitive towards all human beings.  And several chapters later in Deuteronomy Chapter 25:4, comes another law that seems to be concerned with animal welfare, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it is threshing.”

In Chapter 25 verse 13 it says

The most famous example of promising long life comes in the Ten Commandments both in Exodus Chapter 20 verse 12 version and in Deuteronomy Chapter 5 verse 16.

There are other promises of a long life as a reward for keeping the commands, for example  ( Deuteronomy 4:40, 5:30, 6:2)  so why are these specific examples singled out?

The Talmud (Kiddushin 39b) tells the story of a father who sends his son up a tower to send away the mother bird and take the eggs. He is doing two of the things that the Torah says promise a long life. But on the way down the child falls and dies.  Three rabbis witness this tragedy. And they give three different responses. One is that there is no reward and punishment in this world. It is a metaphor for another spiritual realm. Which, of course, we know nothing about but take on faith. The other is that possibly the father of the child had done something really bad, and this was poetic justice. But that is speculative.  The final explanation is a practical one. Perhaps the ladder was defective or they didn’t take the right precautions. And if you behave dangerously or carelessly, accidents are bound to happen no matter how good a person you are. This is one of the fundamental theological debates within Judaism.

There is an alternative explanation. Long life can mean long life for us as a people or for humanity, in contrast to individuals. These are three fundamentals that ensure that humanity thrives on Earth. First comes the family and relationship between parents and children who are responsible for bringing up and caring for children.  Second, comes the balance of nature between all species and the natural world. We see today what happens when we neglect these areas.  The third is commerce and business ethics, essential for us to trade and help each other. A long life has many possible meanings, but being a considerate, caring human being tops the lot!

Rabbi Jeremy Rosen lives in New York. He was born in Manchester. His writings are concerned with religion, culture, history and current affairs – anything he finds interesting or relevant. They are designed to entertain and to stimulate. Disagreement is always welcome.